If you want to know more about one of the plants widely cultivated outdoors, preferably or even indoors, for its special commercial and decorative appeal, provided by its long spikes of beautiful foliage with very striking grouped flowers of various colors, we invite you to continue reading this article that explains the various Care of Gladioli or also called sword lilies.
The Gladioli
They are plants native to Central Africa, South Africa and Eurasia. Gladioli produce sword-shaped green leaves in vertical fans, adorned with large bell-like flowers, which can measure from 6 to 12 centimeters and are white, cream, pink, red, yellow, orange, lavender, violet and purple. green, these grow on one side of the stem and tend to have the largest flower at the base, while those that arise at the bottom of the plant usually open first. Most of the gladioli currently on the market are hybrids called Gladiolus hortulanus.
At least eight different species have been used to obtain modern gladioli, which are divided into three main groups. Firstly, there are the grandiflora crosses, which are gladiolas with very prominent funnel-shaped flowers, which group up to 30 flowers per spike. and are displayed in a wide range of floral colors. Second are the miniature Nanus hybrids with small bulging flowers reaching up to 7,6 cm wide in 1 meter tall scapes, and third are the Primulinus hybrids which have bell-shaped flowers that are held loosely on landscapes with a maximum height of 1,5 meters.
Cultivation and Care
Although the cultivation of this plant does not present major complications, it is important to know some basic aspects to achieve the expected flowering that makes it shine in any garden, pot or vase in any space. Some of the biggest considerations for their care involve knowing when to plant them as they can take at least 2 months to flower, so depending on where you live you may want to vary the ideal time to plant them. The spacing of about 15 centimeters between each other and at a minimum depth of 5 centimeters from the soil that will depend on the size of the bulb.
As for soil conditions, it should be well drained and sandy. This vegetation likes moist soil, so it is necessary to water them weekly and place two or three inches of mulch at the base of the plant. Also, it is best to locate them in sunny spaces to further promote their growth, remembering to hold them so they don't fall over as they grow.
On the other hand, if you want to grow them indoors, you should choose a smaller variety so that the plants do not exceed the size of the container, which must have several drainage holes and at least 30 centimeters in depth and diameter, as well as keep the soil moist. and provide the plant with plenty of sunlight.
Regarding pruning, it can be said that once all the flowers of a specific stem have disappeared, it will be cut, taking care to do it between 5 and 8 centimeters above the ground. Importantly, every time your plant flowers, the corm you used to grow it with will wilt. Hence, the new bulbs that are formed will be the part of the plant that will need to be preserved to grow the following year. They should be stored in such a way that air can move freely between them. Humidity should be low, but the ideal storage temperature should be less than 10 degrees Celsius.
For its propagation, the corm can be used to grow new plants every spring, bearing in mind that this method may require a few years of planting for the plant to flower, but new plants can also be obtained by germinating seeds. To do this, you will need to harvest the wilted flowers over a period of six weeks. After this you will find a hard seed coat, which will require two to three years of care to flower.
In addition, during its development it is convenient that a natural fertilizer is applied every month after new growth emerges each spring, followed by irrigation so that the nutrients penetrate to the roots.
On the other hand, to achieve the greatest protection against pests, extreme care must be taken because they are prone to attacks by thrips, which are small insects that feed on the flowers and leaves of plants, whose notable evidence is the stripes and white patches on the foliage, especially those that do not open. One way to ensure these pests are not a problem is to spray affected plants with a premixed insecticidal soap and repeat every three days until they are eradicated. Controlling other pests and watering properly prevent most diseases, such as Fusarium wilt and gray mold, among others.
It is important to choose where to plant gladioli, which can be in cut flower gardens, since the bulbs are cheap and quick to plant, you can grow about 50 plants in an area of 60 x 120 centimeters. Having cut the stems when both flowers are fully open, this way they will last at least a week in a vase, simply remove the bottom flowers when they wilt.
An alternative is flower beds and borders, taking advantage of the fact that the plant begins to bloom in late summer when many other flowers begin to fade. Its flower spikes stand out from other plants, providing color and vertical interest. Before and after the flowers fade, the sword-shaped foliage is an attractive addition to the garden.
In containers, gladioli look great in a large pot mixed with other bold tropical plants like cannas, elephant ears, and coleus. You can also plant them alone in pots and transplant them into the garden just before they start to bloom. They can also be planted in home gardens when early summer vegetable crops such as peas, lettuce and spinach are removed, ideal for planting gladiolus bulbs in empty spaces. At the end of summer, you can choose brightly colored gladioli to adorn any place you like.
variety of gladioli
Of the great multiplicity of gladioli that exist, Yellowstone can be mentioned: it has bright yellow flowers typical of the summer season and can measure a meter and a half in height, and when the plant blooms, they will easily last for a period of four weeks or approximately. . Dream's End: which is a variety of plant that grows up to 91 centimeters in height and has large orange flowers. Alaska: It bears up to 12 white flowers on each spike, during its blooming for a period of two weeks each and can grow more than a meter in height.
If you prefer plants of this type that have red flowers, the varieties called Claudia and Bacará can meet your expectations, as the former are an excellent option for use in garden borders because they will only grow up to two feet tall. While the latter, they thrive best in partial shade and feature clear, thin, white edges of the petals, which create some contrast with the red. Another presentation is Carine which produces a white flower that has purple markings in the center of the flower in the shape of a trumpet. The plant will do well in full to partial sun and in well-drained soil.
For their part, the so-called Passos: they are suitable if you are looking for a plant that stands out in the garden, this variety has purple flowers with red centers that show when they bloom in July and August, in addition, they grow up to 1,20 meters in height. There is also Nathalie: this is a plant that produces salmon-colored flowers that will look great in any garden. The leaves are star-shaped and each stem can contain 10 or more flowers. This plant is small in size making it ideal for your garden and will grow best in well-drained soil and full sun.
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